AFL
Captain's Run at Port Melbourne: 30 June

The Western Bulldogs have recorded a crucial win over fellow top-eight rival Fremantle, putting the foot down to win an at-times tight clash by 29 points at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

The see-sawing margin sat at less than 10 for most of the game, and Fremantle hit the front seven minutes into the final term, but the Dogs lifted to kick the next five goals and seven for the quarter to win 16.6 (102) to 11.7 (73).

The Dogs bucked the post-bye trend of general flatness, bringing plenty of spark and intensity to the opening quarter.

Two Michael Walters goals in the space of two minutes hauled Freo back into the opening term as their midfielders belatedly got their hands on the footy.

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    Michael Walters takes out this week's Crypto Defining Player

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    Match highlights | Round 16 v Bulldogs

    Fremantle and the Bulldogs clash at Marvel.

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  • 04:37

    'Our mistakes cost us' | Caleb Serong

    Serong speaks post-match following the Bulldog's game.

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    Justin Longmuir post-match | Round 16 v Bulldogs

    Watch Fremantle's press conference after round 16's match against Western Bulldogs

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  • 00:45

    Darcy marks and kicks truly early in the fourth

    Sean Darcy goes back with the flight and kicks an important major in the final term

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  • 00:19

    Freddy with the mark, Sonny with the goal!

    Frederick takes a strong grab and hands off to Sonny who finishes around his body.

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  • 00:15

    Fast Freddy finishes

    Frederick finishes off Freo's hard work for his first

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  • 00:12

    Jye snaps over his shoulder!

    Jye Amiss finishes with this classy snap at the top of the square

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  • 00:18

    Sonny gets Freo started!

    Sonny snaps and goals for Freo's first

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  • 01:57

    'Every game is crucial now.' | Matthew Johnson on 9 News

    Matthew Johnson spoke to 9 News ahead of Fremantle's flight to Melbourne to take on the Bulldogs in a crucial clash on Saturday afternoon.

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  • 07:44

    'We need to make sure we remain consistent' | Justin Longmuir

    Justin Longmuir spoke to the WA media in the lead up to this weekend's clash against the Bulldog's.

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    Perth Radiological Clinic Injury Update | Round 16

    Our High-Performance Manager Phil Merriman, takes us through this weeks injury list.

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    'Back to playing our footy' | Hayden Young

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Such was the weight of play in the Bulldogs' forward half in the opening quarter, Fremantle's leading ball-winners were key defenders Luke Ryan and Brennan Cox at the first break, yet Freo only trailed by one point.

Fremantle pieced together its best disposal chain at the start of the second quarter, a piercing Hayden Young kick freeing up Caleb Serong, working hard to create a spare and Jye Amiss' second snapped goal.

Winger James Aish's return from a back injury meant impressive second-year runner Matthew Johnson (19, five clearances) was moved back on the ball for the most part, while Liam Henry's breakout form continued on the opposing wing with a career-high 33 touches.

While Aaron Naughton had a quiet game until two crucial fourth-quarter goals, he always attracted a defensive crowd, which Jamarra Ugle-Hagan took full advantage of, kicking 4.2 and lodging his bid for a mark of the year nomination in the third term.

Two rucks who are set to dominate the League for the next decade in Sean Darcy and Tim English went head-to-head, and it was Darcy (50 hitouts, 18 disposals) who had the edge both in the stoppages and around the ground.

00:45

Darcy marks and kicks truly early in the fourth

Sean Darcy goes back with the flight and kicks an important major in the final term

Fremantle dominated the outside ball, but were unable to capitalise on its sheer amount of disposal. Walters and Amiss kicked four apiece, but they struggled to find any other paths to goal.

Serong (38, 10 clearances) was coming off a best-on-ground game against the Bombers and was once again Fremantle's best in a well-rounded game, while the Bulldogs' clearance combination of Tom Liberatore, Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae and Adam Treloar was superb.

WESTERN BULLDOGS     3.1     7.3     9.4     16.6 (102)
FREMANTLE                    3.0     6.3     7.5     11.7 (73)

GOALS

Western Bulldogs: Ugle-Hagan 4, Weightman 2, Naughton 2, English, Hannan, Bontempelli, Williams, Lobb, Macrae, McNeil, Dale
Fremantle: Walters 4, Amiss 4, Frederick, Darcy, Schultz

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Liberatore, Bontempelli, Ugle-Hagan, Treloar, Dale, Williams
Fremantle: Serong, Darcy, Henry, Cox, Walters, Amiss

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Fremantle: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Rhylee West (replaced Mitch Hannan at three-quarter time)
Fremantle: Neil Erasmus (replaced Nat Fyfe at three-quarter time)

Crowd: 25,412 at Marvel Stadium

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